Policy and Legal Framework and the Current Status of Ballast Water Management Requirements - Global Maritime Transport and Ballast Water Management: Issues and Solutions - page 65

reception facilities, no discharge of ballast water in Canadian waters, or treat water
to the BWM Convention Regulation D-2 standard. Vessels inbound for the Great
Lakes which carry residual amounts of ballast water only and that was not exchanged
or treated are required to conduct saltwater fl ushing (BWCMR 2011 ).
In addition Canada requires, in close cooperation with the United States, an
inspection of those vessels entering the St. Lawrence Seaway arriving from outside
Canada's EEZ before they enter the Great Lakes. Researchers concluded that this
program seems effective in reducing invasions and recommended it for other fresh-
water ecosystems world-wide (Bailey et al. 2011 ).
It is further considered to require a combined BWM measure of BWE and BWT
to the D-2 standard for vessels entering the Great Lakes and research works are
planned to confi rm the assumption that this approach combining two methods rep-
resents a better environmental protection than a single measure (Bailey personal
communication).
Exceptions from BWM requirements are described in general and for

• similar waters 17 ;
• areas of exclusive operation 18 ;
• vessels in transoceanic navigation in Alternate Ballast Water Exchange Areas;

- Laurentian Channel 19 - east coast; and

- west coast. 20

Other exceptions apply in emergency situations in consultation with Transport
Canada Marine Safety (BWCMR 2011 ).

17 Ballast water that is taken on board a vessel in the United States waters of the Great Lakes Basin
or in the French waters of the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon need not be managed unless it
is mixed with other ballast water that was taken on board the vessel in any other area outside waters
under Canadian jurisdiction and was not previously subjected to a management process.
18 Exceptions are also given when vessels are exclusively operated between ports, offshore termi-
nals and anchorage areas on the west coast of North America north of Cape Blanco (Oregon,
USA); or between ports, offshore terminals and anchorage areas on the east coast of North America
north of Cape Cod (Massachusetts, USA) and ports, offshore terminals and anchorage areas in the
Bay of Fundy, on the east coast of Nova Scotia, or on the south or east coast of the island of
Newfoundland.
19 Should the BWE be impossible because of stability or safety reasons, for vessels on a voyage to
the Great Lakes Basin, St. Lawrence River or Gulf of St. Lawrence, after notice is provided, an
exchange may be conducted between December 1 and May 1, in the Laurentian Channel east of
63° west longitude where the water depth is at least 300 m.
20 Should on a voyage to a port, offshore terminal or anchorage area on the west coast of Canada
BWE as required above be impossible an exchange may be conducted in an area at least 45 NM
west of Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands and at least 45 NM west of a line extend-
ing from Cape Scott to Cape St. James where the water depth is at least 500 m, with the exception
of waters within 50 NM of the Bowie Seamount (53°18 ′ north latitude and 135°40 ′ west
longitude).